Sunday, February 21, 2010

AP: Obama administration to announce Great Lakes restoration plan Sunday

The Obama administration plans to announce Sunday a multi-pronged, $2.2 billion plan to restore the Great Lakes ecosystem, according to a report by the Associated Press.

The goals of the plan include "zero tolerance" for invasive species, cleanup of polluted industrial areas within the watershed of the lakes, wetlands restoration, and protection of water quality in shallow areas of the watershed.

The program will also include provisions aimed at ensuring that progress is monitored.

The Great Lakes region is currently in the midst of an intense political and legal battle over the prospect that Asian carp, which are dangerous to native fish and destructive to water quality, will enter Lake Michigan.

Obama's plan would allocate $58 million to fight the carp invasion this year.